Thanks to my first three reviewers and to their wonderful and encouraging reviews, hope you like this chapter, and yeah, I'm gonna upload as soon as possible I'm just busy with my thesis and all that…anyway thanks to hyperchica11, GreenCookie, XxSwtDreamerxX1, I'm really happy to hear your praise….
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CHAPTER TWO: A Date For Three
"This is it! Our long wait for the Doumyouji's to contact us has come to an end!" Mr. Makino ranted with a grin after he put the receiver back to its cradle.
Lena walked towards her husband with a joyous look. "Who's in the phone anyway?"
"It's Mrs. Kaede Doumyouji, and she wants to have a meeting with us at one of their restaurant, I'm sure that this is about the matching of her son and our daughter."
"That's lovely darling! Wait till our daughter hears this, and what's more, we'll be the envy of our friends and business associates, it's a good thing I'm having tea with the Shinori's, they're hoping too that the Doumyouji's will contact them but I guess we're lucky besides it's not like they're richer than us!" Lena mused.
Mr. Makino smiled to his stunning and socialite wife as he spoke, "I know how much you're overwhelm about this news dear, but I guess it will be better if we keep silent 'till our meeting with Mrs. Doumyouji is over."
Mrs. Makino shrugged with a pout, "If you insist." Then she reached for a magazine and browse through it.
Eiren brought his hands to his chin, "But our main problem was Tsukushi, you know how spirited your daughter is……she'll probably hide in Timbukto before she hears about our wonderful news for her."
A wicked grin appeared on Lena's lips, plans were starting to form in her head. "Well, I'll be the one to convince her and I'll make sure she'll hear our news before she can flee, I'll lock her to her room if I have to. You know how teenagers think, rebelling is natural for them, it's in our hands how to make them understand that what we're doing is for their own sake."
"Dear, you're forgetting that we're talking about our own daughter, she can be as willful as you, I bet that she'll jump out of windows or make holes on the wall or in the ceiling if she has to…."
"That's a possibility…" Mrs. Makino agreed, as she dusted off her dress with imaginary dust. "But my plan won't end there, you'll see, all things will be put to their places in time, and Tsukushi is still our daughter so there's no way we can't understand her."
Mr. Makino smiled as he approached his wife and gave her a kiss, "That's what I love about you my dear, except for your beauty and grace, you're still strong and wise, there's no doubt where did Tsukushi got her spunk, she's just like you when I first met you."
"Imagine that," Mrs. Makino quirked her brows with a smile as if she was back at the old days, "And I still remember how you'll try to irritate me."
Mr. Makino laughed, "A guy's got to do what he's gotta do to gain a woman's attention and affection."
"But all you gain from me was anger."
"But I didn't give up and in the end you admitted you love me too."
"Just because you scared the hell out of me while you're piloting your family's private helicopter, I was so scared then and it's still a mystery how you manage to make me come with you back then."
"Simple. You wanted to be with me."
They both laughed.
"I wish our daughter would find love and happiness the way we found it with each other."
"She will. I'll turn the whole world upside down if I have to," Mr. Makino declared.
"I've heard about Doumyouji Tsukasa, and I've seen him once before on a party, he's with his mother and sister, just looking at him, I believe that he can handle our daughter well."
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"Here we are," Tsukushi announced, she stopped her car in front of a fancy looking restaurant.
Yuki looked down on herself with consciousness, "Do you think it'll be alright?"
"It'll be fine. If it's not then we'll just have to kick that Ken-guy out of the restaurant." Tsukushi jumped off her car, she was wearing the same type of clothes like the one she wore at school, though she was wearing a color yellow and the same goes for her bright yellow slipper. All in all, Yuki looked more presentable with her pastel color knee high dress and slip-ons.
Tsukushi marched at the entrance with her head held high and without a care, with Yuki just right behind her. The guard just scratched his head with bafflement as he held the glass door open, his bafflement could be seen in his face, he can't decide whether to stop the punkish woman for her clothes though he can't since he knew she's from the ever-rich and famous Makino clan.
The crowd inside looked at their way as they approached the table they were designated as the manager welcome them and showed them to their table.
With sheer coincidence, the F4 with Shizuka and Shigeru were dining at the same restaurant. And they were just a table away from Tsukushi's table.
"I know her!" Shigeru squealed.
"Louder your voice more, I don't think they've heard you in Europe!" Tsukasa said with irritation, Shigeru's really annoying.
"Isn't she Tsukushi Makino," Shizuka added as they all looked at her, "I've heard she doesn't attend social parties, any occasion at that, I heard about her but this is the first time I've seen her."
Shigeru just pouted with Tsukasa's remark then smiled. She will not just let Shizuka bring all the news about her idol. "I saw her do some modeling at 'BEAT' magazine. It was a sports oriented and gear magazine. I read that its owner was one of her personal friend, it only requires her to kind of use the sports stuff while they take her picture without her changing her favorite style in clothes. I really love her picture where she was riding a big black motorbike, I think she's cool, there's also this portion about her answering some questions, and where the readers could send questions and stuff then the magazine will forward it to her."
"I agree that she's cool and all, but give me a break," Soujirou muttered with a disbelief in his eyes as he surveyed Tsukushi's clothes. "Can't she wear something nice here at the restaurant?"
Shigeru grumbled, "She's really cool, you see she's not pretending to be anyone by putting uncomfortable clothes if she don't want to. She has her own style and she can really express herself even though the socialites and media were criticizing her but she doesn't care a wit about them, she's really strong and has a lot of guts, that's why she's my idol, and mind you she always says what she wanted to say."
"Not to mention that she's cute," Rui smiled.
Tsukasa glared at Rui, but Rui seemed not to notice.
"Okay I agree with you both," Soujirou said, "But still, IT"S A FREAKING RESTAURANT! Even WE follow codes at a restaurant. It feels not right to eat with your clothes looking like……that!"
"Snap out of it Soujirou," Shigeru bantered back, "You're just irk because Tsukushi can eat and enter a restaurant without looking so fabulous and without being conscious."
"Anyway, why don't we all just eat." Akira muttered for the first time.
"I guess not all of us can eat at the moment, there's this curly-head guy who's drooling after the Makino heiress…." Rui taunted.
"I'm not drooling!"
"Yeah right!" the other said in unison.
At the other table……….
Ken frowned while seeing two young ladies approaching towards him, why there were two when he's only expecting Tsukushi Makino, his frown turned to a curt smile as they finally stopped at their table. Ken stood up and looked at Yuki with a smile.
"I'm so glad to meet you, Ms. Tsukushi Makino," he greeted while pulling a chair for Yuki.
The two friends looked at each other.
Yuki was trying to correct the mistake but Tsukushi beat her to it, "And I'm Yuki…." Tsukushi said with a big grin.
Ken smiled tightly to her before saying to Yuki in a whisper, "Why bother to bring your friend along while she look like that!"
Yuki smiled back as she looked with a worry-frown to her friend whose smile was still wide even though she heard what the peacock was saying about her.
What a snob! She's thankful this baboon of a peacock assumed that Yuki's her or he'll probably saying pleasant things to her even if he has to lie, rich family expect to be top notch richer by matching their heir or heiress to a richer family. And looking at this guy who's every inch of him speaks gold since he has so many jewelries, for a guy…he'll try to be at her good graces even if it chokes him to death!
"I'm just here to assist her since she's a bit shy and it looks like I'm not needed anymore so I'll occupy another seat." She smiled tightly.
Ken looked at Yuki, "I never thought you're shy, I heard so many things about you but being shy."
Yuki just smiled shyly as she tucked her short hair behind her ears.
Ken turned to Tsukushi, "You look like you can't buy your own meal, so as Ms. Makino's good friend I'll handle your tab."
Tsukushi rolled her eyes before walking to another table, near the F4 and the others. She dragged the chair out and plopped on it with ease.
"How unladylike," Soujirou commented with bewilderment. "Dragging a chair like that…"
"That guy!" Tsukasa muttered angrily, they sure could hear their conversation, "How stupid can he be. I'll beat him to a pulp!"
"It's not like Ms. Makino can't handle it." Akira pointed out.
"The good thing was that, she's seating so near to us! I wonder if I can eat dinner with her!" Shigeru yelped.
"I heard that she's not very nice when it comes to stranger so cut with your fantasies about eating with her." Akira commented.
At Tsukushi's table, the waiter approached her with confusion. "Miss Makino, I thought you're dining with the gentleman?"
Tsukushi smirked as she saw Ken paled after he heard what the waiter said.
"I've decided to eat alone at the last minute, I'm going to have the usual and please, do put Mr. Wasaki's tab on my behalf, he look so pale I believe he needs the money for his hospitalization." She said sarcastically.
The waiter smiled but held himself, how they love the Makino heiress as one of the diners in the restaurant. "As you wish, madam." Then he left.
"Then who are you?" Ken asked indignantly to Yuki.
"I am the real Yuki."
Ken turned his gaze from one to the other. Is this some kind of a joke or a trick! His face reddens in anger in humiliation. He just lost his chance with the Makino heiress. He stood up and started to leave.
"Leaving so soon? You should enjoy your free dinner, you see I barely treat strangers for dinner so better feel lucky about it…"
"A very nice ploy Ms. Makino, why didn't I see it before, you always love to disguise, just like the night at the casino…."
"Don't make me feel bad or guilty about it 'coz I'm not." She said with a smirk.
He released a haggard breath before turning away.
"How ill-educated! After he ordered some food for the both of you he suddenly left without thinking about his companion!" she playfully snapped, not caring if people heard her speech, as Yuki joined her. In the end, they ate both foods.
A while later…
"Damn, I'm so full," Yuki smiled as she drank from her glass of red wine after they ate.
"Me too," Tsukushi said while finishing her mashed potato, "I feel like sleeping after."
"What shall we do with the remaining foods?" Yuki asked looking at the untouched foods.
Tsukushi shrugged before calling the waiter and asked him to wrap the foods. When the waiter return Tsukushi gave the lot to Yuki. "I'm sure your sister will be hungry after her work."
"Very."
As they started to get up, Tsukushi's chair became unbalanced so it banged on Tsukasa's feet.
The rest cannot stop laughing since Tsukasa's trying his damn best to ignore the pain.
"Ow, I'm sorry," Tsukushi smiled curtly then she left without bringing the chair up.
"That girl," Tsukasa murmured with smile and astonishment, "How dare she do this to me and just walk away like that…."
"Because she's Tsukushi Makino…" Rui smiled.
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"Good evening, Mrs. Doumyouji," Mr. Makino greeted the stiff looking woman. The woman looked tough and sharp, he's thankful that his wife never bother about controlling or taking over at some of their businesses or else, she could end up just like being Mrs. Doumyouji, just looking at her makes you automatically think that she means business and that's the important thing for her.
"Good evening," Kaede greeted in return at the couple in front of her, "Do sit down."
Mr. and Mrs. Makino sat across Mrs. Doumyouji on a large rectangular table, they just arrived at the Maple restaurant.
"I bet you already know why I called on you Mr. Makino," Kaede spoke to Eiren, "And I'll go straight to the point. We both know that the Doumyouji Empire and the Makino Group of Companies are the top-notch businesses here and abroad and it's getting bigger. I know that once our family became one, we'll be more powerful than we could ever imagine, as soon as I heard that the other business tycoon's were also after your daughter for their son and of course, for their business, that's why I made sure that we'll be closing this matter tonight. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we join our businesses?"
Mr. Makino looked at his wife before he spoke, as if he needed some assurance before he said anything, this meeting is a big thing for them all, and one wrong answer then it could be over. "Of course we know that already, and obviously, we're here because we're interested at your idea."
"You mean that you're agreeing with our children's engagement?"
The couple held hands before they smile and say, "We agree."
Mrs. Doumyouji smiled for the first time, even if it was a tight one. "Good. It's settled then, all we have to do is to let our children's meet and announce their engagement."
"We're having a party at our mansion and all the people in the business world are invited, we could let them meet there and announce their engagement." Mrs. Makino suggested.
"A very good plan, I guess nothing can be a problem…"
"Of course…" Mr. Makino agreed. But on the back of his mind and he's sure that Lena can read it too, that their only problem was Tsukushi, she'll sure spit fire when she learned about this.
"Since we're a family at this moment, now we can just relax and have dinner." Kaede motioned the waiters to serve them food.
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"Guys, I'm home," Tsukushi yelled at the top of her lungs as she entered their living room. It's almost midnight so she knew that her mom and dad were already home.
Mr. Makino looked up from the book he was reading. He's settled on a rectangular sofa while Mrs. Makino was on a single sofa and looking through the invitations.
"Oh there you are daughter, how's your dinner with Ken?" Eiren asked without a care.
Tsukushi blew an exasperated breath as she plopped on another single sofa. "Terrible. How ironic, when mom told me that he's 'quiet a gentleman' but he seems such a dog."
Eiren's eyes narrowed, "Did that kid take advantage of you my dear? I swear I'll blacklist him on the business world when he graduates, I'll make sure nobody trust him enough."
Tsukushi laughed, "Hold down your horses King Arthur, I know how you like to defend your Camelot and all but relax….it's not like your daughter can't handle such guy like him, if he ever take advantage of me, don't you guys think I will beat him to a pulp!"
"What did he do then, to make you so angry and you even call him a dog?" Mr. Makino asked in exasperation while Mrs. Makino rolled her eyes, trust their daughter to make her story as suspense as she could, she loves it when the whole household panicked in her behalf.
Tsukushi told her parents the whole story that happened earlier at the restaurant.
"That's why I'm always proud of you, Princess. You know how to handle a situation." Her father beamed.
"What a jerk! And I thought he was a gentleman and all, I still remembered how he charm the young ladies on the last party that I've gone to. And now, what a snob and a half! I'll probably shoot him if I ever see him standing twenty kilometers away from you, Princess." Mrs. Makino ranted.
Tsukushi cannot help but laugh even harder. "You don't have to do that mom, thanks, I'm just not sure I'm agreeing on having a dinner or whatsoever with him again….."
"It's okay dear girl," Lena assured her daughter. "You don't have to see that guy again."
"Thank you," she said as she stood up, "Now, I'll go ahead and rest, I still got class tomorrow, see you guys and good night."
"Goodnight sweetie.." Mr. and Mrs. Makino said as they kissed her on the forehead.
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"Everything is fine Tsukasa, I paved the way for you," Mrs. Doumyouji announced as Tsukasa entered the house.
Tsukasa's head shot up, his eyes sharp, "What do you mean paved the way?"
"Oh don't give me those looks, my son, it's not like I'll do something worse."
"Yeah right." He started to walk towards the stairs.
"It's about the Makino heiress…." Kaede's words hang in the air.
Tsukasa suddenly turned around and snapped, "What about her! Don't tell me you did something worse to her? She's also rich, you know, even if she cloth herself like that!"
"Relax, my son," Kaede smirked, "So, you do care for her, huh? That's a good sign, I just know how determine you are when you like something, so I guess we won't have a problem after all….I'll just leave Tsukushi Makino to your hands, besides she's all yours…"
"What are you talking about?" Tsukasa's confusion was starting to irritate him more.
"You're really having no patience eh." Mrs. Doumyouji drank from her wine before she told her son about her meeting with the Makino's and that a few more weeks and Tsukushi Makino will be engage to him.
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As Tsukasa was finally in his huge room, he cannot contain his happiness and excitement the news that his mother brought. So he did the only thing he first thought, he jumped around the room while smashing his fist to the air. "YES!"
"For a guy who happened to be the leader of the F4, you sure look so doubtful.." Tsubaki muttered in amusement, though she's happy that Tsukasa was happy.
"Why are you always appearing at times when I'd rather be alone!"
Tsubaki shrugged with a smirk, "Because that's only the moment where I could see you in your most mushy mode."
Tsukasa narrowed his eyes before he grab a pillow and throw it on his sister's head.
He missed as Tsubaki closed the door suddenly, her laughter was radiating on the hallways.
"Damn woman!" though his annoyance never last long since he started to feel happy again.
He picked up the phone and dialed his friends numbers, he cannot contain his happiness to himself.
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I'm still the same author, hehe…just want to make it clear, though it's really a bit making me lazy just to think I have to put it all up again…oh well…. (sigh)
